Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-30

OF former rehned associations; pos
sessed all the emotional susceptibility
of his race, and was withal one of the
most handsome men 1 have ever seen.
About this time there came into the
canyon and began working an aban-
boned placer gold mine. a Portuguese
who dwelt with his family in a log
cabin hard by. The family, beside
himself, consisted of wife and several
children, the Oldest of which was a
daughter of seventeen or eighteen
years This girl. though ignorant of
social refinement possessed a natural
grace and real beauty of person, SO
that the male portion of Galena Canyon,
accustomed only to China women and
harridans of the mining camp. were
soon, all, more or less, enamored of
the pretty Portuguese.
This, for the most part, went no
farther than smile or compliment
given the young woman in gratitude
for the warming of hearts long stag
nant, as they passed her going to and
fro from her fathers work, or assisting
her mother outside their cabin door.
There were several, however. among
the younger ones, determined to pos
sess the prize, the number, as it usual
ly happens, being reduced finally to
two-our friend Frenchy, and good
looking young daredevil of an Irish
man named Truckee Dan. Whether
either of them had ever received any
assurance of favor from the object of
their desire was never known, the girl,
SO far as seen, showing to both alike
only the natural pleasure of all women
at being admired. Each, however, i'm
agined himself to be the favored one
until, on a certain Sunday afternoon.
the Irishman put the question and was
rejected.
Of course his own failure was inter-
preted by him IS an evidence of
Frenchy's success. against whom he
now began to utter threats. The lat
ter, who was not naturally quarrel
some, had never been thought violent,
but man from Phoebe, who had lately
passed through the canyon, reported
him to have once killed a gambler in
that place, and that he was not to be
fooled with.
When the new gold discovery was
first talked of. Frenchy had gone to
Salt Lake to try and effect a sale of
certain mining prospects taken up by
him in the neighboring Moore's Fork.
The uncovering of large body Of ore
in this, hitherto supposed worthless
region had, two years before. caused
considerable excitement, and nearly
every body in the canyon had claim
staked out there which they hoped
would one day prove an extension of
the big vein.
Next to Frenchy's most promising
claim was one recorded, on the same
date as his own, in the name of an old
partner of his now working in Vir-
ginia City and named the Modoc. As
all miners know, in a region showing
evidence of mineral wealth, the ground
is covered with stakes or small piles of
stones marking claims taken up by
different prospectors. These, often
trespassing upon one another, so long
rs nothing valuable is found, are little
thought of, but let any of them develop
into paying property and straightway
its owner is obliged to defend it
against a host of others. 1t is also
well known that mining property
taken up on the public domain, if it
remained unworked beyond a certain
time, reverts back. unless patented.
and may be recorded anew by other
parties This action, known as 'jump-
ing" gives rise to half the quarrels
among the miners. for the prospectors,
as soon as one of their number leaves
the country, are little disposed to
recognize whatever right he may
leave behind.
Frenchy and his partner had thus
taken up separate claims, to prevent
others from disputing the ground. in
both of which they had an equal share.
The latter. now absent some year and
half. had agreed upon his departure.
that Frenchy, upon whom would depend
the holding of the claims, should be
three-fourths, instead of one-half
owner. and that whatever disposition
he might make of the property should
be acquiesced in by himself.
One day. about a week after the un-
successful ending of the Irishman's
love suit, Frenchy. upon going up the
Fork with Salt Lake expert, was sur
prised to find couple of men sinking
a shaft upon the Modoc, one of whom
was Truckce Dan. Certain the Irish
mans action had been taken only for
the purpose of forcing a quarrel upon
him, and unprepared to assert his
rights. he passed on with his companion
to the claim recorded i'm his own name.
which they proceeded to examine. The
presence of others. however, claiming
ownership so short a distance away
ruined all chance of negotiation. as the
strangers first question had been
whether the immediate vicinity was
claimed by any one else. All Frenchy
u L 4